Hot vapor lamp equipment



-1 1944. M. A. BABB I 2,339,244 I HOT VAPOR LAMP EQUIPMENT Filed April 11, 1940 y Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VENTOR ATTORNEYS Ma ardxLBabb Ja n.

M. A. BABB HOT VAPOR LAMP EQUIPMENT Filed April 11, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1 fihynardzfiflabb Patented Jan. 18, 1944 NT oFF1cE- HOT VAPOR EQUIPMENT Maynard A. Babb, North Bergen, N. J., assignor,

.by mesne assignments, to Maxwell M. Bilolsky,

Newark, N. J.

, Application April 11, 1940, Serial No. 329,035 10 Claims. (Cl. 24 o- -1)' The presentinvention relates to the art of electric vapor lamps and is more especially concerned with lamp equipment of the hot" cathode typ i Among the objects of the invention-are to provide a practical and compact vapor lamp installation in which the various elements including the lamp tube, its mount, its starting unit and its associated reflector are all inter-related in a single compact inexpensive unit' of attractive appearance thatflmay be readily installed and re-lamped for operation on the standard house or oflice lighting circuit and without the need for auxiliary wiring.

Another object is to provide a hot cathode vapor lamp installation by the use of which the lifeof the emissive heated cathodes of any suitable tube employed, is greatly lengthened.

Inthe accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various embodiments of the several features of the invention. 7

Fig. 1 is a perspective .view of one embodiment of lamp assemblage ol' the lamp mounted-type, Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, taken on a larger scale, with the central part broken away, Fig. 3 isa transverse sectional view taken on line 3-4- 0: Fig. 2,,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line [-4 of Fig. 2, I 1

tube n.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the socket end of the mounting appliance and casing element of the assemblage, I

Fig. 6 is a. fragmentary sectional view takenon line 6-7-6 of Fig. 5,

r Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the mounting base end of the-lamp,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 ofanother embodiment of lamp assemblage of type not directly afllxed in a lamp socket, and

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 9-8 of Fig. 8. I

Referring now to the drawings, the assemblage shown in general outline in Fig. I includes a casing element Ill shown in greater detail in Figs. 2 to 6 inclusive, in which is housed the automatic lamp starting unit, desirablyof the electromagnetic type, the details of which need not be described, but illustratively and preferably are those of prior Patent No. 2,159,837, granted on May 23, 1939, upon application filed by me, jointly with Samuel J. A. M. Bagno. The casing is desirably made of two longitudinal halves Ill and III of plastic. molded product, illustratively Bakelitef? determining a cavity I I therein for the electromagnetic or other starting unit S which is desirably merely lodged therein and retained. against rattling (whenscrews 22 are applied to hold said halves in assembled relation) by means of sponge rubber spacers l2 adhesivelmsecuredin one of said halves. I The casing has a unitary plug l3 mounting the conventional central contact I 4 and screw shell contact I! for insertion into an ordinary lamp socket. At the opposite end the insulating casing has a socket I6 for mounting the lamp The socket carries two pairs of contacts I8, I 8 and I8, I9 for the respective pairs of terminals of the two cathodes 20 and H at opposite ends of the lamp tube.

The contacts I8! and I8 are headed studs extending through a rigid fiber base plate 25 and urged outwardly by coil springs 26 surrounding the shanks of the respective. studs, washers 21 on the inner ends of the studs'determining their extreme outer position. The rigid contact carrying plate 25 is preferably rectangular and is embraced* securely in corresponding deep grooves 28 molded into the casing as best shown inFlg.6. K

The lamp has two pairs of contacts 30', 30 and 3|, 3| arranged on diameters at right angles to each other and mounted in an insulating base 33 at one end thereof. Onepair of said contacts constitutes the terminals for the cathode 20 and the other pair for the. cathode II at the outer .end of thelam'p. the leads (not shown) to said latter cathode extending'lengthwise of the "lamp 1 a odes. In order to prolong the life 01' the lamp, it is, therefore, desirable to provide facilities "for.

introducing it into circult'with the terminals in either 01' the two relatively reversed position.

To this end, the bayonet slot connection is specially constructed and arranged. The socket l6 has two pairs of inwardly protruding'angle shaped or bayonet bosses II and 36, 36* molded as alunitary part thereof, with the horizontal limbs thereof lying in a common plane. The elements or each pair of bosses are diemetrically opposite each other. but the'diam- I eters of the respective pairs are not at a right angle but at an acute angle relative to each other. As a consequence the distance between the successive bayonet bosses, proceeding about the socket, are illustratively alternately greater as at D and lesser as at d.

The mounting base 33 of the lamp tube, which is desirably of molded plastic such as Bakelite" has a toothed conformation complementary to that of the socket. One pair of diametrically opposite periphera1 locking teeth or lugs 31, 3l will illustratively interlock with the pair of bayonet bosses 25, 35 respectively and the other pair of such teeth 38', 33 will interlock with the other pair of bayonet bosses 36', 36 'respectively.

For this purpose, as indicated in Fig. 7, the distances between the four locking teeth 31', 38, 31', 38' proceeding peripherally about the lamp base are alternately greater as at D and lesser as at d to correspond with those in the socket. The lamp .base 33 in addition to the'locking teeth has a pair of diametrically opposite wider projections, lugs or teeth 33' and 39 adjacent the pair of teeth 38' and 33 respectively. The overall span of teeth 38! and 33' and that of teeth 33' and 33 is greater than the-gap d in the socket and less than gap D so that the lamp tube may be introduced into the socket only in either of two relatively reversed positions rather than in the four positions that would be possible were the spacing of the bayonet conformations uniform.

The base 33 has a peripheral groove 40 above the line of the locking and blocking teeth, the

ledge ll of which groove will restupon the upper edges of the bayonet bosses 35, 36 in the socket I! when the lamp is introduced thereinto. When the lamp is then turned and pressed inward, the locking teeth 31, 33 will latch under the bayonet bosses 35, 36 and the turning will be arrested when the teeth engage the. vertical elements of the respective bayonet bosses. In that position, the two pairs of contacts 30, 3| 0! the lamp are in registry with the two pairs of spring-pressed contacts l8, I! in the socket and the lamp is resiliently held in place and in circuit by springs 28.

In the course of operation, the lamp is from timeto time to be removed from its socket and reintroduced after turning the same 180 degrees. in

which setting the current through the respective cathode coils would be reversed, thereby prolonging the life of the lamp for the reasons and in the manner set forth- .In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. l, the lamp may beprovided with ashield desirably in the form of a reflector" which is semi-cylindrical and is spot-welded at the end to a spring steel clamp 5| substantially encircling the 'cyiindricalwall of the casing III. At the opposite end, the shield has desirably spot welded thereto a husk 52 encircling the outer or upper end 53 of the lamp.

The embodiment of Figs. 8 and 9 shows a selfcontained unit which may be used. as a fixture or fitting apart from the electric lamp socket. For this purpose, the socket 55 which mounts the tube 54 is a unitary molded block with a flange 56 and an integral bottom 51 through which extend the springpressed contacts 53 similar to those in the embodiment ofFigs. 1 to '7.v The starter unit S which is similar to that used in Fig. 2 is attached by means of a yoke 59 and long screws 60 extending the length of the unit and threaded into sockets (not shown) molded into corresponding bosses CI in the socket piece. The

bayonet slot connection 32 between the lamp base 33 and the socket I5 is preferably identical with that of the embodiment of Figs. 1 to "I. The socket 35 has an integral boss 84 which mounts a snap switch assembly by which circuit is made and broken to the starter unit 8' and the lamp 5|. The switch desirably comprises a molded switch head 66 carrying a stationary contact piece 61 and provided with a unitary shank ll snugly fitting into the socket 6|. The conducting leads 69 from the switch extend along longitudinal grooves in the shank 68 and are thereby mounted in place. The operating or movable member of the switch is the cap Hi telescoped over the head 66 and is retained in place by an axial metal fastener 1|.

Desirably the socket flange 56 rests on the end annulus of a spring metal mounting cap ring 12 and is retained in place by a spring ring R snapped into a bead 13 in ring 12. The ends of spring ring R. substantially engage the opposite sides of boss 64, which in turn is lodged in a notch 64' in the cap ring 12 and the associated metal structure described below. Ring 12 has a skirt 14 over which is telescoped' a sheet metal husk 15 which houses the electric starter S and through an axial hole 13 in which extend the flexible cords 11 with the conventional electric plug (not shown) to be introduced into an outlet box. The reflector 13 similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is telescoped under the skirt 14 of thering I2 and a husk l9 desirably is telescoped at 3| over the correspondingly reduced extremity of the reflector 18. Desirably hanger eyes 32 are riveted to the two husks, by means of which the lamp unit may be supported horizontally or vertically or in any other desired position.

As many changes could be made in the above apparatus and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted .as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentis:

l. A hot cathode vapor lamp installation of the type having its four terminalsat one end, a terminal carrying base for one end of the vapor lamp, a socket mounting said base, said socket having spring pressed contacts for coaction with those of the lamp, and a bayonet slotv connection between-said socket and said base, the bayonet connection comprising two pairs of diametrically opposite bayonet conformations respectively in the socket and on the lamp base, said two pairs being on diameters of the socket and base respectively that are disposed at a relative angle other than a right angle, the base having blocking conformations of width greater than the distance .between the pairs of bayonet conformations in the socket that have the lesser gap there. between, and less than that having the greater gap therebetween, whereby the lamp may be introduced into the socket with the terminals for the two hot cathodes in either of the two possiin for motion with the terminals of said lamp, said socket having inwardly projecting bayonet conformations in two diametricallyopposite pairs, the bayonet conformations between each diametrically opposite pair being nearer one of said pair. than the other, said base having bayonet lugs thereon for coaction with the bayonet conformations in said socket, said base also having diametrically opposed projections of width greater than the distance between a pair of more nearly adjacent bayonet conformations in the socket, and less than that between a pair of more widely spaced conformations, whereby the lamp may be introduced into the socket with the terminals of each cathode in engagement with only one of the two pairs of contacts in the socket'but in either of the two mutually reversed circuit relations.

3. The combination of a hot cathode vapor lamp and a carrying socket therefor, the socket element of which has two pairs of diametrically opposite angle-shaped projections therein, the

diameters of said pairs being at an acute angle with respect to each other, the mounting end of said lamp having the four terminals of the cathodes thereof and having four lugs adapted for bayonet connection with respect to the conformations of the socket and having blocking projections of width greater than the distance between the more nearly adjacent pairs of said bayonet projections, and less than the distance between the more widely spaced of said bayonet projections, thereby to permit entry of the plug into mounting and circuit making relation in only two possible relations at 180 degrees with respect to each other.

4. A hot cathode vapor electric lamp installation, comprising a socket and a coacting lamp having an insulating base at one end thereof, said socket having two pairs of springpressed contacts in the base thereof, said pairs being on diameters at right angles to each other said lamp having two pairs of cathode terminal contacts at said base thereof similarly disposed, anda bayonet slot connection between said socket 4 and said lamp base, comprising two pairs of diametrically opposite coacting interlocking bayonet structures, the respective pairs being on diameters at an acute angle relative to each other, the lamp base having blocking projections asso-' ciated with one pair of the bayonet structures thereon to preclude the entry thereof between the narrower of the spaces between the bayonet structures in the socket but to permit entry thereof through the wider of such spaces, whereby the lamp may be connected in circuit with its terminals always in contact with one and the same pair of terminals in the socket but may be introduced in either of two possible settings at 180 degrees with respect to each other.

asaaau.

c having 5. The combination recited in claim 4 in which the lamp base presents an insulating shoulder adapted to ride during the setting of the bayonet connection, upon the upper edges of the bayonet structures in the socket.

6. A hot cathode vapor lamp combination, comprising a socket having a starting unit therein and including two pairs of contacts. a tubular lamp having a base with corresponding two pairs of contacts meeting with those in said socket and arefiector unit encircling and clamped with respect to saidsocket, extending lengthwise of said lamp and having a husk at the opposite end thereof extending about the free end of said lamp.

7. A hot cathode vapor electric lamp combination, comprising a casing having a starting unit therein, a lamp carrying socket at the forward end of said casing 'havingtwo pairs of spring pressed contacts in the base thereof, a tubular lamp having a base with two pairs of' contacts therein for coaction with those in said socket. a cylindrical reflector clamped with respect to said casing and extending lengthwise of said lamp and a husk on the free end of said reflector enclosing the free end of said lamp.

8. A hot cathode electric vapor lamp unit,

comprising an insulating casing. having a mounting plug at one end thereof and a lamp carrying socket at the other end thereof and having a lamp starting unit enclosed therein, a lamp removably mounted in said socket, and a reflector extending lengthwise of said lamp, having a circling the free end of the lamp.

,9, A vapor. electric lam unit, comprising a j lamp carrying socket, a starter unit afllxed to the back of said socket, a lamp in said socket, a j husk enclosing said starter, means aflixing said husk with respect to said socket, a reflector con centrlcally affixed at one end with respect to said husk and a second husk afllxed on the opposite end of said'reflector and housing the free end of said lamp, said socket having a snap switch mounted thereon for connecting the starter and the lamp in circuit.

10. A vapor electric lamp unit, comprising an insulating flanged socket, a lamp starting unit amxed to the rear face of said socket, a lamp mounted at one end in said socket, a cap ring supporting and embracing said socket flange. a split spring lodged ina head in said cap ring and engaging the outer face of said flange, a husk enclosing said starting unit with its rim snugU f engaging said cap ring and a reflector having One end thereof snugly enclosed by said cap ring and having a husk snugly mounted on the opposite end thereof for housing the other end ofthe lamp.

MAYNARD A. BABB. 

